Refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor having a damper that delays closing of a duct cap is disclosed herein. The refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor include a duct cap, an opening and closing device, a connecting rod, a packing holder, a packing, and a cylinder. The duct cap opens and closes an ice duct of the refrigerator, and the opening and closing device opens and closes the duct cap. The connecting rod is connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device. The packing holder is connected to the connecting rod. The packing is disposed in the packing holder. The cylinder may include at least one slot formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder and the packing makes a reciprocating motion within the cylinder while generating a frictional force.

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 10-2006-0082823 filed in Korea on Aug. 30, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor are disclosed herein.

2. Description of Related Art

A refrigerator is a device that maintains a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment at predetermined low temperatures using a refrigerating cycle device, which includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator. The refrigerator may include an automatic ice maker which utilizes cold air in the freezer compartment to make ice. However, related art refrigerators having automatic ice makers have various disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator with a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment in an open state in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice duct opening and closing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automatic ice maker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice duct opening and closing device for a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a refrigerator with an ice duct closed in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a refrigerator with an ice duct open in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a damper shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a magnified cross-sectional view of a packing and a packing holder shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor according to embodiments are disclosed herein. The duct cap assembly according to embodiments is disclosed as implemented in a refrigerator, as an example. However, the duct cap assembly according to embodiments may also be implemented in other types of apparatus as well.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator with a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment in an open state in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment R and a freezer compartment F, which are sectored by a barrier 1, a main body 2 having a refrigerating cycle device (not shown) that refrigerates the refrigerating compartment R and the freezer compartment F to predetermined low temperatures, a freezer compartment door 4 coupled to the main body 2 that opens and closes the freezer compartment F, and a refrigerating compartment door 6 coupled to the main body 2 that opens and closes the refrigerating compartment R.

The refrigerating cycle device may include a compressor that compresses a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant by radiating the heat of the compressed refrigerant through external air, an expander that reduces the pressure of the condensed refrigerant received from the condenser, and an evaporator that absorbs the heat from air circulating around the refrigerating compartment R or the freezer compartment F using the expanded refrigerant and evaporating the heat.

Recently, automatic ice makers or machines have generally been mounted in refrigerators. The automatic ice makers automatically make ice using cool air in the freezer compartment F and automatically output the ice in response to a user operation.

An automatic ice maker may include an ice making device 8 that freezes water to make ice using cool air in the freezer compartment F, and an ice bank 9 that holds ice received from the ice making device 8. The ice bank 9 may include a conveying member (not shown) that conveys ice output from the ice bank 9, and a motor 10 that rotates the conveying member.

The freezer compartment door 4 may include a dispenser (not shown) that provides the conveyed ice and water from a water supply (not shown). The freezer compartment door 4 also may include an ice duct 12 which acts as a passage that guides the ice conveyed from the ice bank 9 to the dispenser and an ice duct opening and closing device 13 that opens and closes the ice duct 12.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice duct opening and closing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an automatic ice maker of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ice duct opening and closing device 13 may include a duct cap 21 configured to open and close the ice duct 12, a lever 22 operated by a user, a micro switch 23 turned on/off by the lever 22, a rotating shaft 24 configured to rotate the duct cap 21, a solenoid 25 configured to rotate the rotating shaft 24 so as to rotate the duct cap 21 to a position of opening the ice duct 12 or a position of closing the ice duct 12, and a spring 26 configured to elastically support die rotating shaft 24 to automatically rotate the duct cap 21 to a position of closing the ice duct when the duct cap 21 is rotated to a position of opening the ice duct by the lever 22 operated by a user. The refrigerator may further include a controller 30 that operates the motor 10 and the solenoid 24 of the ice bank 9 in response to the input of the micro switch 23.

Hereinafter, an operation of outputting ice of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 will be described herein below.

When a user pushes the lever 22, that is, when a user applies force to the lever 22, the lever 22 turns the micro switch 23 on, and the controller 30 drives the solenoid 25 and the motor of the ice bank 9. The solenoid 25 rotates the rotating shaft 24, and the rotating shaft 24 rotates the duct cap 21, thereby opening the ice duct 12.

When the motor 10 of the ice bank 9 is driven, the ice bank 9 outputs ice disposed therein, and the output ice is dropped into the ice duct 12. The dropped ice is output to the dispenser through the open ice duct 12.

When the user releases the lever 22, that is, when the user removes the force applied to the lever 22, the lever 22 turns off the micro switch 23, and the controller 30 moves the solenoid 25 back to its original position after a predetermined period of time, for example, four seconds, in order to output any remaining ice. When shifting the solenoid 25 back to its original position, the spring 26 rotates the rotating shaft 24, and the duct cap 21 rotates to the position of closing the ice duct 12.

The refrigerator of FIGS. 1-3 includes the solenoid 25 which closes the duct cap after a delay of a predetermined period of time as described above. The solenoid, however, increases the cost of the refrigerator, and generates noise when operated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice duct opening and closing device for a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment in an open slate. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ice duct opening and closing device of FIG. 4 in a closed state. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ice duct open opening and closing device of FIG. 4 in an open state. The ice duct opening and closing device of FIG. 4-6 is implemented in a refrigerator such as that shown in FIG. 1. The same reference numerals have been used to denote elements identical to those of the refrigerator and ice duct opening and closing device of FIGS. 1-3, and detailed description of the identical elements is omitted.

Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the refrigerator according to this embodiment may include an ice duct opening and closing device 13 that opens and closes an ice duct 12 in response to the operation of a user. The ice duct opening and closing device 13, as shown in FIG. 4, may include a funnel 51 mounted in a freezer compartment door 4 by fastening members, such as screws.

The funnel 51 may serve as an installation plate that rotatably supports a lever 62 and a duct cap shaft 70 of an opening and closing device 60 described herein below. Further, the funnel 51 may prevent ice cubes output from the ice duct 12 from bouncing in a forward or side direction in a dispenser. A duct device 52 may be formed at a bottom of the ice duct 12 to communicate therewith.

A micro switch 90 may be disposed adjacent the funnel 51, which may be switched by a lever 62 of the opening and closing device 60. The micro switch 90 may be disposed at a side of the duct device 52.

The ice duct opening and closing device 13 may further include a duct cap 58, the opening and closing device 60, and an air damper 100. The duct cap 58 may function to open and close the ice duct 12 and may be rotatably or slidably disposed at a bottom end of the ice duct 12. Hereinafter, the duct cap 58 will be described as rotatably disposed, thereby closing a bottom end of the ice duct 12 in a rotating manner in accordance with thus embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, the duct cap 58 may be disposed to rotate in a forward and backward direction with respect to a top thereof. That is, the duct cap 58 may be inserted into the duct device 52 of the funnel 51, thereby communicating with the ice duct 12, or disposed between the duct device 52 of the funnel 51 and the ice duct 12, thereby blocking the ice duct 12.

The opening and closing device 60 may a allow the duct cap 58 to be opened and closed manually. The opening and closing device 60 may include a lever 62 operated by a user, a rotating shaft 70 mechanically connected to the lever 62 that rotates the duct cap 58, and a spring 80 that elastically supports at least one of the lever 62 and the rotating shaft 70 to rotate the duct cap 58 to a position of closing the ice duct 12.

The lever 62 may include a vertical bar 63 disposed inside the dispenser to be pushed by a user in a backward direction, left and right horizontal bars 64 and 65 bent from a top of the vertical bar 63 to the right and left side, respectively, and rotatably supported by the lever supporting device 53 and 54 formed at the left and right bottom ends of the duct device 52, a switch connecting bar 66 bent from one of the left and right horizontal bars 64 and 65 that turns on/off the micro switch 90, and a duct cap connecting bar 67 bent from the other of the left and right horizontal bars 64 and 65 and connected to the rotating shaft 70. The rotating shaft 70 may be disposed at a top side of the duct device 52 of the funnel 51 extending in the left to right direction, and a connecting member 72 may be projected from one of the left and right ends of the rotating shaft 70, which may be rotatably connected to the shaft connecting bar 67 through the connecting member 71.

The spring 80 may have one side connected to the funnel 51 and the other side connected to the rotating shaft 70. Further, the spring 80 may be formed of, for example, a coil spring or a torsion spring.

The air damper 100 may be a time relay mechanism that delays closing of the duct cap 58 using friction force and air damping force, which are generated when an operation for closing the duct cap 58 is performed by the opening and closing device 60. Opening the duct cap 58 may not be delayed so that when an operation of opening the duct cap is performed the duct cap is quickly opened.

The air damper 100 may control the duct cap 58 to be slowly closed when the operation for closing the duct cap 58 is performed. The air damper 100 may also control the duct cap 58 to be closed quickly (hereinafter, a releasing delay operation) after controlling the duct cap 58 to be closed slowly for a predetermined period of time (hereinafter, a closing delay operation). The air damper 100 according to an embodiment will be described hereinafter below as closing the duct cap 58 quickly after closing the duct cap 58 slowly for a predetermined period of time.

That is, the air damper 100 may be a multi-stages damping device having a plurality of damping devices having different damping forces. The air damper 100 may include a cylinder 102, a packing 110 disposed to make a reciprocating motion along an inside of the cylinder 102 and friction within the cylinder 102, a packing holder 120 that houses the packing 110, and a connecting rod 130 that connects at least one of the duct cap 58 and the opening and closing device 60 with the packing holder 120 in order to enable the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 to make the reciprocating motion along the inside of cylinder 102.

The cylinder 102 may be fixed to a supporting member 103 installed in the funnel 51. The supporting member 103 may include a mounting hole 103 a for mounting the cylinder 102, and the cylinder 102 may include a mounting device 102 a mounted in the mounting hole 103 a.

The cylinder 102 may be formed to have one end closed and the other end open. Further, the cylinder 102 may include a section or region in which the packing 110 makes a slow reciprocating motion (hereinafter, “high damping region”) and a region in which the packing 110 makes a fast reciprocating motion (hereinafter, low damping region). Alternatively, the cylinder 102 may include a region in which the packing 110 makes a slow reciprocating motion, a region in which the packing 110 makes a reciprocating motion at an intermediate speed, and a region in which the packing 110 makes a fast reciprocating motion. Hereinafter, the cylinder 102 according to an embodiment will be described having a high damping region 104 and a low damping region 105.

The cylinder 102 may include one or more slot(s) 106 that admit and expel air, formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder 102 and extending in a lengthwise direction. When the cylinder 102 is sectored with one end 106 a of the slot 106 as a reference, a back region may be the low damping region 105, and a front region may be the high damping region 104.

The slot(s) 106 may extend in the lengthwise direction from the open end of the cylinder 102 toward the closed end of the cylinder 102 a predetermined length in order to form the high damping region 104 close to the closed end and the low damping region 105 close to the open end of the cylinder 102.

The length of the slot(s) 106 may be in inverse proportion to the length of the high damping region 104. If the length of the slot(s) 106 is short, the length of the high damping region 104 is long and the length of the low damping region 105 is short. Therefore, the delay time of closing the duct cap becomes lengthened. On the contrary, if the length of the slot(s) 106 is long, the length of the high damping region 104 is short and the length of the low damping region 105 is long. Therefore, the delay time of closing the duct cap becomes shortened.

Since the low damping region 105 with the slot(s) 106 formed therein is elastically deformed more easily than the high damping region 104 without the slot(s) 106, the low damping region 105 has comparatively smaller friction forces with the packing 110, and the high damping region 104 has comparatively greater friction force with the packing 110.

The cylinder 102 may include one slot 106 or a plurality of slots 106 separated in a columnwise direction of the cylinder 102. Further, the slot(s) 106 may be formed to have a wider columnwise direction width or formed to have a narrower columnwise direction width. As the number of the slots 106 increases or the columnwise direction width of the slot 106 widens, the air flow speed of the air damper 100 according to an embodiment becomes faster, and the elastic deformation of the low damping region 105 becomes easier. On the other hand, as the number of the slots 106 decreases or the columnwise direction width of the slot 106 becomes narrower, the air flow speed of the air damper 100 according to an embodiment becomes slower, and the elastic deformation of the low damping region 105 becomes harder. If the damping force of the low damping region 105 is required to be minimized, the number of slots 106 may be minimized and the columnwise direction width of the slot(s) 106 may be reduced. If the damping force of the low damping region 105 is required to be maximized, the number of slots 106 may be maximized and the columnwise direction width of the slot(s) widened.

The packing 110 may be configured to generate a friction force when the packing 110 moves in one direction different from that generated when the packing 110 moves in the other direction. Elastic material, such as a rubber material, may be used to form the packing 110 so that the packing 110 easily contracts and widens/extends.

The packing 110 may include an inclined portion or inclination device 112 that minimizes the friction force with an inner circumference or surface of the cylinder 102 when the packing 110 moves in the direction of being inserted into the cylinder 102, for example, toward the closed end of the cylinder 102, and that maximizes the friction force with the inner surface of the cylinder 102 when the packing 110 moves in the direction of being drawn out of or withdrawn from the cylinder 102, for example, toward the open end of the cylinder 102. That is, when the packing 110 moves toward the closed end of the cylinder 102, the inclined portion 112 is not deformed or is contracted slightly by the cylinder 102, thereby generating a small friction force between the inclined portion 112 and the cylinder 102. When the packing 110 moves toward the open end of the cylinder 102, the inclined portion 112 becomes extended in an outer radial direction by the cylinder 102, thereby maximizing the friction force between the inclined portion 112 and the cylinder 102. Therefore, the inclined portion 112 may have a diameter that becomes smaller as the inclined portion 112 extends closer to one end of the cylinder 102.

The connecting rod 130 may include one end 131 connected to one of the lever 62 and the rotating shaft 70 through an additional connecting member. The one end 131 of the connecting rod 130 may be connected to a connecting member 71 that connects the rotating shaft 70 and the lever 62, thereby connecting the lever 62, the rotating shaft 70, and the connecting rod 130 through one connecting member 71. Such a configuration minimizes the required number of parts.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a damper shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a magnified cross-sectional view of a packing and a packing holder shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment.

The packing 110 may be formed in a ring shape, as shown in FIG. 7. The packing 110 may include an outer circumference 114 having the inclined portion 112 projected therefrom, an inner circumference 115 having a smaller diameter than the outer circumference 114, and a front surface 116 that connects the outer circumference 114 and the inner circumference 115.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inclined portion 112 may include outer and inner surface 112 a and 112 b which may be inclined toward the inner surface of the cylinder 102. Also, a vertical surface 112 c may be formed at a rear end of the inclined portion 112 facing the open end of the cylinder 102.

When the packing 110 moves toward the closed end of the cylinder 102, the outer surface 112 a rubs against the inner surface of the cylinder 102, and the inclined portion 112 is not deformed or is contracted in an inner radial direction. As a result, the packing 110 may be inserted quickly into the cylinder 102 without great resistance.

On the other hand, when the packing 110 moves toward the open end of the cylinder 10, the vertical surface 112 c and/or the inner surface 112 b rubs against the inner surface of the cylinder 102, and the inclined portion 112 extends in an outer radial direction. As a result, the packing 110 must be withdrawn slowly from the cylinder 102 due to great frictional force created between the packing 110 and the inner surface of cylinder 102.

As shown in FIG. 7, the packing holder 120 may include an inner holder 124 having connecting members 122 and 123 that extend therefrom and to which the connecting rod 130 may be connected, and an outer holder 128 having a through hole 126 through which the connecting members 122 and 123 may pass. The packing 110 may be disposed between the inner holder 124 and the outer holder 128.

The inner holder 124 may include an insertion device 125 configured to be inserted into a space formed by the inner circumference 115 of the packing 110, and the two connecting members 122 and 123 may extend from the insertion device 125 to the left and right. The connecting members 122 and 123 may include connecting holes 122 a and 123 a facing one another that connect the other end 132 of the connecting rod 130 to the inner holder 124.

The outer holder 128 may include a plurality of insertion ribs 129 formed along a circumference thereof. The plurality of insertion ribs 129 may be configured to be inserted into the packing 110. The plurality of insertion rib 129 may be formed to be tightly arranged between the inner circumference 115 and the outer circumference 114 of the packing 110.

Since the outer holder 128 may be connected to the inner holder 124 by inserting the connecting members 122 and 123 of the inner holder 124 into the through hole 126, the through hole 126 may be formed to be slightly wider than front, back, left, and right widths of the connecting members 122 and 123.

An operation of the duct cap assembly according to embodiments disclosed herein will be described herein below.

When a user pushes the vertical bar 63 of the lever 62, the horizontal bars 64 and 65 rotate supported by the lever supporting device 53 and 54 of the funnel 51, and the duct cap connecting bar 67 rotates the rotating shaft 70. The rotating shaft 70 elastically deforms the spring 80, rotates the duct cap 58 in a direction toward the inside of the duct device 52, and the duct cap 58 opens the ice duct 12.

When the duct cap shaft connecting bar 67 rotates the rotating shaft 70 and the duct cap 58 as described above, the connecting rod 130 moves toward the inside of the cylinder 102 along with the packing holder 120 and the packing 110, and the packing 110 moves from the low damping region 105 to the high damping region 104 in the cylinder 102.

When the packing 110 passes through the low damping region 105, the outer most end of the inclined portion 112 is partially bent in a direction of contracting as the outer side 112 a of the inclined portion 112 slides along the inner surface of the low damping region 105. As a result, the packing 110 easily moves along the inside of the low damping region 105. The air inside the low damping region 105 quickly flows toward the outside of the cylinder 102 through the slot(s) 106, and the packing 110 quickly passes through the low damping region 105 and enters into the high damping region 104. When the packing 110 passes through the high damping section 104, similar to passing through the low damping region 105, the outer most end of the inclined portion 112 is partially bent in a direction of contracting as the outer side 112 a of the inclined portion 112 slides along the inner surface of the high damping region 104 of the cylinder 102. As a result, the packing 110 easily moves along the inner surface of the high damping region 104. The air inside the high damping region 104 quickly flows toward the outside of the cylinder 102 through the slot(s) 106, and the packing 110 quickly passes through the high damping region 104. When the packing moves forwardly as described above, the lever 62 and the rotating shaft 70 rotate without being disturbed by the air damper 100, and the duct cap 58 quickly opens the ice duct 12.

The switch connecting bar 66 of the lever 62 turns on the micro switch 90 when the lever 62 rotates, and the controller 30 receives a signal from the micro switch 90 and drives the motor 10 of the ice bank 9. When the motor 10 of the ice bank 9 is driven, the ice contained within the ice bank 9 is dropped into the ice duct 12, and the ice is output into the dispenser through the open ice duct 12 and the duct device 52 of the funnel 51.

When a user releases the lever 62, that is, when a user removes the force applied to the lever 62, the spring 80 returns to its original shape, thereby rotating the rotating shaft 70 in a direction of closing the ice duct 12, and the lever 62 rotates the ice duct 12 in a direction of closing the ice duct 12 cooperating with the rotating shaft 70.

When the rotating shaft 70 and the lever 62 inversely-rotates the switch connecting bar 66 of the lever 62 turns off the micro switch 90, and the controller 30 stops the motor of the ice bank 9, and the ice is not output from the ice bank 9 anymore. Further, when the rotating shaft 70 and the lever 62 inversely-rotate, the connecting rod 130 moves backward, toward the open end of the cylinder 102, with the packing holder 120 and the packing 110, and the packing 110 moves backward from the high damping region 104 to the low damping region 105 within the cylinder 102.

When the packing 110 moves backward, the inclined portion 112 extends in an outer radial direction as shown in FIG. 6. That is, the vertical side 112 c or the outer side 112 a rubs against the inner surface of the high damping region 104, thereby increasing the friction force between the packing 110 and the high damping region 104. As a result, the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 slowly move due to the damping generated by the friction force. The air inside of the low damping region 105 cannot quickly flow through between the inclined portion 112 of the packing 110 and the inner surface of the high damping region 104 due to the large frictional force between the inclined portion 112 of the packing 110 and the inner surface of the high damping region 104. The air inside the high damping region 104 expands, and the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 move slowly due to the damping generated by the air.

That is, the packing 110 is slowly withdrawn from the high damping region 104 due to the damping by the frictional force and the air, the backward-moving speed of the packing holder 120 and the connecting rod 130 is slowed, the lever 62 and the rotating shaft 70 slowly rotate due to the fine balance between the restoring force of the spring 80 and the damping force, and the duct cap 58 slowly closes the ice duct 12. During the delayed closing of the ice duct 12, all of the remaining ice output from the ice bank 9 is dropped into the dispenser.

After a predetermined period of time passes, the air damper 100 is completely withdrawn from the high damping region 104 and enters the low damping region 105. Since die elastic deformation of the low damping region 105 is easier than that of the high damping region 104, the frictional force of the low damping region 105 is smaller than that of the high damping region 104. As a result, when the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 pass through the low damping region 105, the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 more quickly move backward than in the high damping region 105. When the packing 110 and the packing holder 120 move backward, the air inside the low damping region 105 flows into the inside of the high damping region 104 through and between the inclined portion 112 of the packing 110 and the inner surface of the low damping region 105, and air external of the cylinder 102 flows into the inside of the low damping region 105 through the slot(s) 106. Therefore, the damping force generated by air is not applied to the packing 110 and the damping force is minimized, and the packing 110 quickly moves backward through the low damping region 105 due to the restoring force of the spring 80.

When the packing 110 quickly moves backward through the low damping region 105, the lever 62 and the rotating shaft 70 rotate faster than when the packing 110 moves backward through the high damping region 104, and the duct cap 58 rapidly closes the ice duct 12.

The refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor according to the embodiments disclosed herein have at least the following advantages.

The duct cap assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes an opening device that opens and closes a duct cap, which is mechanically connected to the duct cap, and an air damper having a packing and a cylinder. Therefore, not only cost but also vibration and/or low noise may be minimized. Also, the damping force of the air damper may be controlled within multiple stages with a simple structure of slots formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder.

The packing may be formed of a rubber material, thereby minimizing noise. Further, the packing may include an inclined portion that contracts when the packing moves toward a closed end of the cylinder to minimize the friction force with the inner surface or circumference of the cylinder and that extends when the packing moves toward the open end of the cylinder to maximize the friction force with the inner surface of the cylinder. Using such a simple structure for the packing, the duct cap may be opened easily and closed with a predetermined delay.

The packing holder may include an inner holder having projected connecting members to which a connecting rod may be connected, and an outer holder having a through hole through which the connecting members may penetrate. Therefore, the packing may be fixed more firmly than a packing forcedly inserted onto an outer circumference of a holder, and it allows easy packing replacement.

The opening and closing device may include a lever, a rotating shaft connected to the lever to rotate a duct cap, and a spring that elastically supports at least one of the lever and the rotating shaft in order to rotate the duct cap to a position of closing the ice duct. The lever and the rotation shaft may be directly connected providing the opening and closing device with a simple structure, and minimizing the number of parts.

The connecting rod may be connected to the rotating shaft, and the lever by one connecting member. Therefore, the number of parts may be minimized.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor with minimized cost and noise by delaying closing of a duct cap using an air damper.

Embodiments disclosed herein also provide a refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor having a simple structure for delaying closing of a duct cap and a simple structure for releasing the delay.

In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, a refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor are provided which may include a duct cap, an opening and closing device, a connecting rod, a packing holder, a packing, and a cylinder. The duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator, and the opening and closing device may open and close the duct cap. The connecting rod may be connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device. The packing holder may be connected to the connecting rod. The packing may be disposed in the packing holder. The cylinder may include one or more slots formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder.

The packing holder may include an inner holder having projected connecting members for connecting to the connecting rod and an outer holder having a through hole the connecting members penetrate, wherein the packing may be disposed between the inner holder and the outer holder. The outer holder may include at least one insertion rib to be inserted into the packing. The packing may be made of rubber material.

The packing may include an inclined portion that minimizes friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward one end of the cylinder, and that becomes extended to maximize the friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward the other end of the cylinder.

The packing may include an outer circumference having the inclined portion, an inner circumference having a smaller diameter than the outer circumference, and a front side connecting the outer circumference and the inner circumference, wherein a ring shaped space may be formed between the outer circumference and the inner circumference.

The cylinder may have one end closed and the other end open. The slot(s) may extend from the other end of the cylinder in a lengthwise direction of the cylinder a predetermined length.

The opening and closing device may include a lever, a rotating shaft connected to the lever that rotates the duct cap, and a spring that elastically supports at least one of the lever and the rotating shaft to rotate the duct cap to a position of closing an ice duct. The lever may be rotatably connected to a connecting member of the rotating shaft. The connecting rod may be connected with the rotating shaft and a shaft connecting bar by the connecting member.

The cylinder may be fixed to a supporting member installed in the refrigerator. The refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor may further include a funnel disposed at the supporting member, including a duct device communicating with a bottom side of the ice duct, and rotatably supporting the rotating shaft and the lever.

In accordance with another embodiment, a refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor are provided which may include a funnel, a duct cap, a rotating shaft, a lever, a spring, a cylinder, a packing holder, a packing, and a connecting rod. The funnel may be disposed to communicate with an ice duct formed in the refrigerator, and the duct cap may open and close the ice duct. The rotating shaft may be connected to the duct cap and rotate the duct cap, and may be rotatably supported by the funnel. The lever may be connected to the rotating shaft to rotate the rotating shaft, and may be rotatably supported by the funnel. The spring may elastically support at least one of the lever and the duct cap to rotate the duct cap to a position of closing an ice duct.

The cylinder may be disposed in the funnel, and may include one end closed, the other end open, and one or more slots formed in a lengthwise direction. The packing holder may be movably disposed within the cylinder. The packing may include an inclined portion, which may be disposed in the packing holder, and may have a diameter that becomes reduced as it extends toward one end of the cylinder for minimizing friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward one end of the cylinder and for maximizing the friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward the other end of the cylinder. The connecting rod may be connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device, and may be connected to the packing holder. The slot(s) may extend from the other end of the cylinder in a lengthwise direction of the cylinder a predetermined length.

The packing may include an outer circumference having the inclined portion, an inner circumference having a smaller diameter than the outer circumference, and a front side connecting the outer circumference and the inner circumference, wherein a ring shaped space may be formed between the outer circumference and the inner circumference.

In accordance with still another embodiment, a refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor are provided which may include a duct cap, an opening and closing device, and an air damper. The duct cap may be disposed to open and close an ice duct formed in the refrigerator, and the opening and closing device may be connected for opening and closing the duct cap. The air damper may include a plurality of air damping parts, each providing different damping force.

The air damper may include a connecting rod connected to least one of duct cap and the opening and closing device, a packing holder connected to the connecting rod, a packing disposed at the packing holder, and a cylinder having one end closed and the other end open, and including a damping force controller formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder. The packing may be disposed in the cylinder and make a reciprocating motion while generating a frictional force between the packing and the cylinder. The packing may include an inclined portion that becomes extended by being rubbed against the inside of the cylinder when the packing moves toward the closed end of the cylinder. The damping force controller may be one or more slots formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder.

The refrigerator and duct cap assembly therefor may include the opening and closing device for opening and closing a duct cap, and which is mechanically coupled to the duct cap, and the air damper having the packing and the cylinder for delaying closing of the duct cap. Therefore, not only cost but also vibration and noise can be minimized. Also, the damping force of the air damper may be controlled within multiple stages using the simple structure of slots formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and aspects thereof are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting. Embodiments have been applied to a refrigerator having an ice maker and an ice bank mounted in a freezer compartment door. However, the teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. A duct cap assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a duct cap configured to open and close an ice duct formed in the refrigerator; an opening and closing device configured to open and close the duct cap; and a damper assembly connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device, wherein the damper assembly delays a closing of the duct cap upon initiation of a closing operation.
 2. The duct cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the damper assembly comprises an air damper.
 3. The duct cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the damper assembly comprises: a connecting rod connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device; a packing holder connected to the connecting rod; a packing installed in the packing holder; and a cylinder, wherein the packing makes a reciprocating motion within the cylinder while generating a frictional force.
 4. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the cylinder includes at least one slot formed at a predetermined portion in a periphery of the cylinder.
 5. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the packing holder comprises: an inner holder having connecting members projecting therefrom that connect to the connecting rod; and an outer holder having a through hole through which the connecting members penetrate, wherein the packing is disposed between the inner holder and the outer holder.
 6. The duct cap assembly of claim 5, wherein the outer holder includes at least one insertion rib configured to be inserted into the packing.
 7. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the packing is made of a rubber material.
 8. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the packing is ring shaped.
 9. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the packing includes an inclined portion that minimizes friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward a first end of the cylinder, and that becomes extended to maximize the friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward a second end of the cylinder.
 10. The duct cap assembly of claim 9, wherein the first end is closed and the second end is open.
 11. The duct cap assembly of claim 9, wherein the packing includes an outer circumference having the inclined portion extending therefrom, an inner circumference having a smaller diameter than the outer circumference, and a front side that connects the inner circumference with the outer circumference, wherein a ring shaped space is formed between the outer circumference and the inner circumference.
 12. The duct cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the cylinder has one end closed and the other end open.
 13. The duct cap assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one slot extends in a lengthwise direction a predetermined length from adjacent the open end of the cylinder.
 14. The duct cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing device includes a lever, a rotating shaft connected to the lever that rotates the duct cap, and a spring that elastically supports at least one of the lever and the rotating shaft to automatically rotate the duct cap to a position of closing the duct cap.
 15. The duct cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever is rotatably connected to a connecting member of the rotating shaft.
 16. The duct cap assembly of clam 15, wherein the connecting rod is connected with the rotating shaft and a shaft connecting bar by the connecting member.
 17. The duct cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the cylinder is configured to be fixed to a supporting member, wherein the supporting member is configured to be installed in the refrigerator.
 18. The duct cap assembly of claim 17, further comprising a funnel configured to support the supporting member, including a duct device configured to communicate with a bottom end of the ice duct, and rotatably supporting the rotating shaft and the lever.
 19. A refrigerator comprising the duct cap assembly of claim
 1. 20. A duct cap assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a funnel configured to communicate with an ice duct of the refrigerator; a duct cap configured to open and close the ice duct; an opening and closing device configured to open and close the duct cap; and a damper assembly supported by the funnel and connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device, wherein the damper assembly delays closing of the duct cap upon initiation of a closing operation.
 21. The duct cap assembly of claim 20, wherein the damper assembly comprises an air damper.
 22. The duct cap assembly of claim 20, wherein the opening and closing device comprises: a rotating shaft connected to the duct cap configured to rotate the duct cap and which is rotatably supported by the funnel; a lever connected to the rotating shaft configured to rotate the rotating shaft, and rotatably supported by the funnel; and a spring configured to elastically support at least one of the lever and the duct cap to automatically rotate the duct cap to a position of closing the ice cap.
 23. The duct cap assembly of claim 20, wherein the damper assembly comprises: a cylinder disposed in the funnel including one end which is closed, and another end which is open, and at least one slot formed extending in a lengthwise direction; a packing holder movably disposed within the cylinder; a packing including an inclined portion disposed in the packing holder, the inclined portion having a diameter which decreases as it extends toward the closed end of the cylinder to minimize friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward the closed end of the cylinder and to maximize the friction force generated between the packing and the cylinder when the packing moves toward the open end of the cylinder; and a connecting rod connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device, and connected to the packing holder.
 24. The duct cap assembly of claim 23, wherein the at least one slot extends in a lengthwise direction a predetermined length from adjacent the open end of the cylinder.
 25. The duct cap assembly of claim 23, wherein the packing includes an outer circumference having the inclined portion extended therefrom, an inner circumference having a smaller diameter than the outer circumference, and a front side that connects the inner circumference with the outer circumference, wherein a ring shaped space is formed between the outer circumference and the inner circumference.
 26. A refrigerator comprising the duct cap assembly of claim
 20. 27. A duct cap assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a duct cap configured to open and close an ice duct of the refrigerator; an opening and closing device configured to open and close the duct cap; and a damper assembly, including a plurality of damping regions each providing a different damping force, connected to one of the duct cap and the opening and closing device.
 28. The duct cap assembly of claim 27, wherein the damper assembly comprises an air damper.
 29. The duct cap assembly of claim 27, wherein the air damper assembly comprises: a connecting rod connected to at least one of duct cap and the opening and closing device; a packing holder connected to the connecting rod; a packing disposed in the packing holder; and a cylinder having one end closed and the other end open, and including a damping force controller formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder, wherein the packing is disposed in the cylinder and makes a reciprocating motion while generating a frictional force between the packing and the cylinder.
 30. The duct cap assembly of claim 29, wherein the packing includes an inclined portion that becomes extended by being rubbed against an inside surface of the cylinder when the packing moves toward the open end of the cylinder.
 31. The duct cap assembly of claim 27, wherein the damping force controller comprise at least one slot formed at a predetermined portion of a periphery of the cylinder.
 32. A refrigerator comprising the duct cap assembly of claim
 27. 